XIII
Kim was deep in a trance. She had gone to bed in the wee hours of the morning, highly intoxicated. She had slept a few hours, but instead of waking up as normal, she slipt into a quasi-dreamlike state. She sensed the impurities in her body and the nanites adjusting themselves, flushing the toxins out. She experimented a little and found she could direct the nanites to stimulate her muscles. I bet I could use these nanites to greatly enhance physical training. She lay in that state for a seemingly long, and restful, time before she awakened.
"Noon," she groaned, as she saw the clock beside her. At least no hangover. Then she noticed she was in her underclothes. Looking around, she saw that she lay on green sheets under a very light black comforter. In a double bed. She put her hand to the rumpled side next to her. "Shego," she muttered. She wasn't present, but she knew she'd slept there beside her.
Last night, finishing off the rum, she could barely walk and had lain beside Shego on her bed. But last she recalled, she'd been fully clothed and on top of the covers, not under them.
Somehow, she didn't get the feeling that Shego had taken any liberties with her. Yet she was disturbed by how much she'd come to trust her. Enough to get that drunk with her, to fall asleep next to her, and to not be overly disturbed to wake up knowing that Shego had taken her outer clothes off, tucked her in, and then fallen asleep next to her. More so, she liked the connection she had with her. They had such differences, and yet were alike in many ways, too. They'd gotten along before, too, when they teamed up against Aviarius to help her brothers, or became friends when Shego was turned to good.
How does that "reverse polarizer" Attitudinator helmet work anyway?, wondered Kim. I guess it takes what a person tries to hide from herself and makes it dominant, while the projected persona takes a backseat. So when Shego was hit with it, all her goodness came out, while the villainy she wears with some twisted pride was suppressed. And she HAD been a superhero once…I don't know, I'll have to ask Mom about it.
Then she thought about Ron. She hadn't seen him in days now. And the very last time she had seen him, she'd—or her body, controlled somehow by Dementor—had tried to kill him. She felt a mix of relief and jealousy that Yori had stopped her, and gotten Ron to safety. At least I'm not so petty that I couldn't be concerned with his safety, even though he ran off with Yori, and Yori so obviously still likes him.
Then she thought of what her mom and dad must think. Resolutely, she got out of bed, took a quick shower, put on her mission clothes, and went to find Shego.
--xxx
Shego, having exercised, swum, showered, and eaten, rested out in the Caribbean heat that made her lazy as she lay on a hammock, listening to the waves crash nearby, and people talking off in the distance. She'd used her enhanced hearing to eavesdrop on a few, but found it boring and soon just drifted on the hammock as an ocean breeze swept past her, rustling the leaves above her, and tickling her bare skin. She wore her tankini, a large white hat to reflect the sun and its heat away, and sun glasses.
What to do about Kimmie. She couldn't believe she'd brought her arch foe here, to one of her most secret hideouts, gotten drunk with her, and then when she passed out, made her comfortable and fell asleep beside her. It just wasn't right. Oh, she'd tease Kimmie about it to be sure, but the fact of it was, Kimmie was a hero that Shego really liked. It reminded her of when they had been friends and had truly happy together.
While Ms. Goody Two Shoes thanks to that Attitudinator, she'd gone to Middleton because that's where Kim was. It took a lot—including bribing a Ms. Carlson to take some time off—to become a teacher in her class. She did that in part for protection from her brothers, as Kim was the only one she knew who could stop them without hurting them, and would protect her, too. But also because of how well they worked together against Aviarius. She had feared Kimmie would also push her away for being a freak, and yet she hadn't. Ron hadn't been too enthusiastic about the sitch, but then Shego and Kim were a much better match, and they all knew it even if none of them would outright say it.
I don't know why he doesn't hook up with Yori. She keeps glancing at him with those guarded eyes of her. Maybe she was obliged to protect him, but it was obvious that her heart demanded it, too.
But what about Kimmie and me?
How much was real and how much was the nanites bonding them? It distressed her that she couldn't trust herself to be herself. She had to get rid of these nanites so she could finally think straight.
She heard the door open and she smiled as she recognized Kim was coming. Damn, is this happiness real or is it nanite-induced!? Her smile was genuine, but she allowed enough mischief to sink in for it to be enigmatic. "Hey, Princess," said Shego, waving to her, "Thought we'd come here for some R&R, but looks more like I&I."
"I&I?" asked Kim, lifting a brow. "Do I want to know what that is?"
"Intoxication and Intercourse," replied Shego, barely repressing her laughter.
"No, I didn't want to know," replied Kim. "But I know better than that anyway."
"Impressive denial skills you have there Kimmie…you're not a villain, you don't drink, and last night you didn't have multiple…"
"Shego!" interrupted Kim. "It's not funny."
Shego disagreed by laughing.
"Look," said Kim, "I had a really nice time yesterday. But I'm really worried about this sitch, and I want to get it taken care of. At least what we can do."
Shego said nothing for several seconds, and then nodded. "Actually, Kimmie, I'm looking forward to have this resolved myself. So tell you what, let's get something to eat and we'll look to getting our swag to Kyoto. But we need a plan. I don't mind fighting ninjas in an honest fight if I must, but I certainly don't want to be surprised by one."
Kim replied sarcastically, "Because everyone should fight clean like you."
Shego smiled at her, and it wasn't entirely pleasant. "Oh, I fight dirty, Kimmie, but I doubt you realize just how dirty ninjas can get. They wrote the book on dirty before hiding it. Some schools may have a stronger sense of honor than others, but you'd be foolish to fully trust them, and especially to turn your back on one, even when you're sure they're allies."
"Whatever. Is there any way to get in touch with them before we get there?"
Shego nodded. "I have a place in Vladivostok, the city closest to Japan."
"Russia?" asked Kim.
"City of international gangsters and smuggling. You can get anything there. I love it."
Kim almost answered with sarcasm, but shrugged it off. Assuming she ever went back to fighting crime (or took up crime), having contacts in such a city could prove very useful.
--xxx
Landing the jet in a lair in Vladivostok was quite the experience. Before they landed, Shego had explained to Kim that these men they were going to deal with followed a code that wouldn't allow them to forge ties to the community they preyed upon, and so had become masters at this kind of forgery, stolen identities, and hidden bank accounts. And she apparently had an "offshorski" herself that she was able to draw upon to pay for services rendered as well as to get a wad of traveler's checks for pocket money. Kim wore her standard mission clothes, but Shego had taken to wearing a green tunic top with black skirt and black high-heel boots, along with dark green leggings and arm warmers, and a black belt that went around her tunic.
And as they left the jet, Kim felt out of place as Shego spoke Russian to the obviously shady people that spoke a little too loudly for her tastes. Even worse, these men—and they were all men, Kim noticed, though they didn't seem to find Shego's presence strange—insisted that they both have a drink with them before doing any business. That drink was a shot of what Kim was sure was turpentine, but Shego said it was vodka, and gulped hers down to appreciative nods. She sipped hers, and if it hadn't been for her nanites, she probably would've gotten sick from it. It was obvious that the men dismissed her and focused on Shego. Part of her wanted to teach them not to underestimate her, but she focused instead on finishing her drink while Shego made arrangements for her jet's storage and their personal transport to Japan.
Kim was relieved when Shego told her they were done, giving her a passport with her picture on it that identified her as Jill Tucker. They left, each holding multiple discs with the data taken from Dementor's lair, and Kim carrying the mind control helmet Dementor wanted to use on them in a plain brown box. .
"That was fast," said Kim, after they got a block away.
Shego shrugged, "I faxed them our pictures before we left. All we had to do was have a drink and pay them."
"So where are we going now?"
"Zolotoy Rog," answered Shego.
"Excuse me?" asked Kim.
"The bay, okay?" replied Shego with a little annoyance. "We're getting to Japan by boat. It only has Russians aboard and should be free of any pesky ninjas." Kim noticed a slight emphasis on the word "should."
At least that was a change. Kim let herself relax a little and take in the sights of Vladivostok. Despite the differences in the local alphabet and architecture, the increased pollution and plethora of parking spaces, it somehow reminded her of San Francisco. It must be the fog and hilly streets, she thought to herself. Then she blinked as two boys and a girl, both dirty, came up to her and asked for something in Russian with their hands out.
"Back off!" shouted Shego harshly, and they scattered.
"Don't like kids much?" asked Kim, peeved.
Shego grabbed Kim and pulled her along until Kim started walking with her. "Let's keep going, Princess. If you gave them any money, then we'd have been marked as soft, and then we'd have a fight later with much bigger kids who wondered what else we had, having enough to give some to the local waifs. While violence is no stranger to this city, I imagine our unique fighting styles would alert too many of the wrong people to our whereabouts."
"They're just children, not even teens," answered Kim. "Who cares if we gave them a dollar?"
"Respect for human life, even a child's, is not prevalent around here. Keep in mind, Princess, that the value of your life is even less."
Kim shook her head. "I don't get why they're begging anyway. Aren't there children's homes?"
Shego shrugged. "Yeah, but not the kind any child would want to grow up in. The ones that exist are overburdened, unhealthy, and abusive. Understand, there are few do-gooders out here, and those that manage to help even a few have learned not to cross the wrong people, on either side of the law."
Kim was horrified. "So what do they do?"
"Survive," said Shego casually. "Many are pickpockets, and many act as scouts and assistants to bigger criminals, even mobsters. Some of the beggars are themselves put out by mobsters to fleece tourists." She shrugged. "I suppose it beats selling your body."
Kim frowned. "Growing up with mobsters and thugs? I can't think of anything worse."
"How about sleeping on the pipes in the sewers during winter just so you don't freeze to death?" Kim was about to say something, but Shego grabbed Kim's wrist and dragged her down another street.
"What was that about?" asked Kim, careful not to look at whatever Shego had saw as she kept a good grip on the box.
"River Dragons," answered Shego.
"I thought you were friends with them."
"I was. Maybe I still am. But if they found out I helped one of the local Russian mobsters get away from them in Taiwan, then no." She shook her head slowly, saying, "The Triads have long leaned on the Red Mafia, and now they're even taking over in Vladivostok. I don't know if they found out about me or not, but either way I don't want them to recognize me. If they don't know about my involvement, then we're still friends, but our presence is noted and reported, possibly to the wrong people. If they DO know, then a scene will likely happen in the very near future that will make certain the wrong people hear of us."
"I see why you like this city so much," replied Kim wryly.
Shego grinned. "Yeah, it's fun."
"Fun isn't the word I'd have used," mumbled Kim. "I'd have chosen interesting, as in the kind mentioned in the Chinese curse." She was relieved when the bay came into sight. "How long before we leave?"
"A couple of hours still."
"Let me make a quick phone call."
"Quick," said Shego with a steely tone.
"Light speed, even," answered Kim. Finding a pay phone she made a call to the hospital in Kyoto, asking for the top administrator, since Kim knew he was an alumnus of the Yamanouchi School. She was told to leave a message, and she simply said, "Kimberly Ann, a close relation to one of the new doctors, will be bringing something that will be of immense help in her current project. And don't worry, she can be trusted." She then quickly added, "Please and thank you," before hanging up.
Then she and Shego hurried aboard the designated ship and waited impatiently for it to leave port.
--xxx
The ship ride to Nagoya wasn't the most pleasant event. While Shego was away momentarily, a Russian sailor reeking of strong liquor and obviously drunk asked her if she wanted a brown cigarette that he called a "seeGAHro." Kim shook her head and smiled. Maybe smiling was a mistake, because he began to get overly friendly, calling her "krasivaya devushka." Luckily, before Kim had to get violent with him, Shego was back. She grabbed him, hands glowing green, and shoved him into the wall hard enough that he fell down unconscious.
"Do you think we should do something with the body?" asked Kim.
Shego shook her head. "Naw, don't worry about it, Kimmie. Unless you want me to throw him overboard?"
"No!" Shaking her head she added, "What kind of ship has workers like that anyway?"
Shego snorted. "Don't be naïve, Princess. Even some luxury cruises hold unsavory workers, and more than one woman has mysteriously disappeared on a voyage. As it is, this ship belongs to the rebyata in Vladivostok, and it's on biz."
"Do I want to know what that is?"
Shego shrugged. "It's complicated. For now, let's just say the boys I paid and who own this ship are with what many call the Organizatsiya, or Red Mafia."
Two more sailors came by and discovered the one who'd been pawing Kim. One spoke in harsh Russian to him and kicked him. When he just groaned, the other laughed. The one who kicked the unconscious sailor said something harsh again, but the guy laughing dragged the angry one away.
"Charming people," said Kim sarcastically. "I see why you like them."
"Oh, yeah, they're quite amusing to be around, if a bit on the chauvinist side" replied Shego, smiling wickedly. "And Russian men with money can be very generous with it."
"If they get as drunk as that sailor you slammed against the wall, no wonder," Kim muttered. Shego laughed.
--xxxx
When the ship pulled into Nagoya, they were escorted off while a car carrier drove up to the ship.
"Let me guess," said Kim frowning. "I don't want to know."
"You don't," answered Shego. "We got more important things to worry about."
From there they caught a taxi to the Nagoya Station where they took the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto. At the Kyoto Station, they got a room.
Kim was nervous. Tomorrow she'd see Mom and Dad. She hoped everything went ok.
--xxxx
The next day they discussed how they were going to get the data and helmet to the Possibles. Kim suggested that Shego remained behind, but she refused. "We're in this together, Kimmie."
They left with Kim wearing purple--dress, pumps, sleek sunglasses, ladies sun hat, along with white stockings. Shego wore black pants, tennis shoes, long gloves, sun hat, and shades with a green blouse that covered much of her skin. To look more like tourists, they also had some sacks from the more chic stores, one of which now held the helmet gotten from Professor Dementor.
The subway trip that dropped them near the hospital was almost without incident, simply being severely jostled by a group of Japanese youths that did not seem to have the manners accredited to them, but they were quickly forgotten.
They entered the hospital without incident and were told to wait after letting the desk know that "Kimberly Ann was here with the crucial equipment." A few minutes later, 2 policemen, 3 security guards, and 2 nurses met them. They were curtly requested to accompany them, and Kim had the distinct impression that it wasn't a request.
They were taken to a clinic, and a nurse said, "Kimberly Ann Possible, you honor us with your presence. May I ask what you have for our project?"
"This," said Kim, slowly pulling out the helmet. "This was used by Professor Dementor to make Drakken work for the other side. He intended to use it on me and Shego after whatever he used to temporarily take control of our bodies was destroyed. I hope that you can find what you need to undo the brainwashing of those infected. Plus, this was recorded off Dementor's computer, and contains the records of his experiment that first opened a portal to the invading world, as well as many notes on their technology, including the nanites."
The nurse took the discs and the helmet and bowed. "Please wait here." Then she left.
One of the guards said, "Please put your bags down and sit over there."
They both graciously did so without complaint. The guards began pulling out the knick knacks and doodads one might expect a tourist to pick up, when one made a cry of surprise and dropped the bag.
Instantly, Mego popped out of the fallen bag and jumped to full size. He was wearing blue jeans, purple tennis shoes and shirt, sunglasses, and his hair was dyed black.
Kim and Shego both shouted, "Mego!" in surprise.
"See, the ability to shrink has its uses!"
Kim and Shego both gasped when he spoke: his voice revealed he had the nanites in him.
He opened the door and ran out.
Kim and Shego jumped up, but the guards took up a fighting position while the police pulled stun sticks out.
"He's infected! He must be stopped or he'll lead others here!" shouted Kim.
"Sit down!" commanded an officer.
"No time!" shouted Shego, and quickly blasted them, getting 2 while the others leaped aside. Without pausing, she and Kim ran out the door and ran the direction they saw Mego go. Following him was easy as there were many who openly gawked after him. They didn't pause as they ran.
Outside, they were again able to tell the direction they went as people on one side stared behind them irritably. They ran a block but stopped as they saw no sign.
"He's near," whispered Shego. "He likes to shrink when he turns a corner, and no one is looking anywhere funny. That meant he ducked somewhere, probably an alley, and shrank."
Kim willed her hearing to increase and her eyes to magnify and take in details, and was pleased when it happened. I've really got to practice using these nanites.
Suddenly, a van driving by stopped and the side doors opened. The Wego twins got out, each wearing black and red but otherwise looking like tourists, and turned into a dozen people. From the driver's side came Hego, wearing a mostly casual blue and also looking like a tourist, who picked up the van and slung it at Shego and Kim.
Shego dove to the side and Kim into the alley and behind a dumpster. After the crash and several automotive pieces skittered across the pavement, she got up and sensed movement. She turned and her elbow accidentally got the solar plexus of Mego.
"Oops," said Kim. "I mean, good!" She kicked his knee, rammed her palm against his chin and then twisted his arm to pull him forward and tripped him, following through with another kick. But Mego shrank before the kick could land and she was off balance when she was tackled by a dozen Wegos.
Shego was doing only a little better against Hego. She blasted him and about anything he picked up to throw at her, and when he did manage to throw something, she easily dodged. And then Hego charged. Shego rolled her eyes and blasted him on his back. "Kimmie?" she asked and ran to the entrance of the alley. Seeing the Wegos on Kim, she started blasting them off and the others quickly jumped off. Suddenly, Mego appeared before her and punched her.
Growling, Shego said, "My turn," swinging at Mego with her glowing fists, but he shrunk again.
"No, Sis," said Hego as he hoisted Shego up from behind her using her blouse, "My turn." His eyes opened wide in pain as Shego twisted out, and he held only a blouse. Now, sporting only a black sports bra from the waist up, she punched his face with a glowing green fist, knocking him back.
Mego grabbed Shego from behind trying to pin Shego's arms to her side. Shego let him and then easily reached to Mego's crotch with a glowing hand. When Mego pulled his crotch back, Shego slammed her head backwards and got Mego in the nose. As Mego released Shego and grabbed at his nose, she did a back kick, knocking him back. To be tripped by a leg sweep by Kim Possible. Mego shrank as he landed and rolled aside.
Kim jumped up as the Wegos again tried dog piling on her, and landing on the shoulders of one, did a summersault to stand back to back by Shego.
Just in time for Hego to leap down beside them, pick each up with a glowing fist and sling them both into the alley with stunning force.
As Kim and Shego shook their heads trying to stop the vertigo they both felt, they were surrounded by a dozen Wegos with Hego and Mego behind them.
With hands on his hips, Hego said, "Shego, we were given our powers for a reason, but you forsake destiny and our powers have remained mostly idle while evil was allowed to flourish. But now, you WILL be cured, and Team Go will once again be a force for justice as we fight together in a war to end all wars."
Trying to buy time to recover, Shego asked, "How did you even find us here anyway?"
Mego snorted. "Like it was hard. Global Justice tried doing a trace on Agent Kirin and Wade once it became clear they'd been abducted. They were traced to Kyoto before they suddenly vanished. Thanks to me, and my power of shrinkage, we now have a good idea WHERE in Kyoto they are."
Hego added, "Since you were involved in these foul kidnappings, and no one else seemed able to stop your reign of terror, we were recruited to stop you and sent here to find the missing assets and bring you and Kim Possible to justice. We scoured this city for days, disguised as mere tourists, until Mego reported locating you. We tracked him while he spied on you." Then looking a little friendlier, he added, "Don't worry, they just plan to fix you, and then you won't need to be imprisoned or eliminated. We'll be a team again, sister!"
"How come you couldn't track us?" asked Kim.
Hego answered, "For the same reason you are malfunctioning: you were not keyed into the system and became rogues, untraceable and unaccountable. But once that's taken care of, you'll be fully rehabilitated."
As the Wegos closed in, Shego blasted 2 of them and as they focused on her, Kim jumped up, flipped over the shoulders of a Wego in a classic cheerleader move, landed on the shoulders of Hego, and grabbing his short hair, she allowed herself to fall, kicking him in the back of the left knee with one foot and on his lower back with the other as she did. Hego fell, and Kim kept rolling, slinging Hego into the wall. He fell back down, and then twisted over, punching out with a glowing blue fist. She quickly rolled out of the way and Hego yelled in surprised pain as his fist put a hole in the concrete.
He stood up, determined to put Kim down for a nap, and Shego blasted Hego. Then Shego blasted at Mego, though he shrank and she got a Wego. And then all the Wegos and Mego jumped at Shego, who leaped out of the way, landing near an upright Kim.
Suddenly there was a whine. Kim and Shego both recognized it, eyes going wide in surprise and fear, and looked to the source of the sound: another EMP grenade.
"Oh, no," said Kim to Shego.
"This is getting weak," agreed Shego.
The grenade went off, and everyone in the alley fell. The Wegos reverted to being a pair.
Police ran in—at least they looked like police—and put a wet rag to the mouth of each one.
And that easily, all of Team Go, including Shego and Kim Possible, were captured.